Dave Staba sends along his latest Artvoice piece, which is a response to a typically ignorant and offhanded comment about Buffalo and Buffalonians in the national media - in this instance the Wall Street Journal. A “journamalist” came to Orchard Park, saw some people behaving like idiots, and therefore concluded that the Bills were…

a team that has struggled to control some of the worst-behaving fans in all of sports,

Staba, using the same anecdotal methodology as the Wall Street Journal’s reporter, walked around the Ralph and concludes,

• The Bills have some of the most Dutch-sounding fans in all of sports;

• those same fans have an unhealthy obsession with Will Ferrell (Hans was wearing a T-shirt promoting the actor-comedian’s 2004 tour de force Anchorman);

• they favor very big hats.

Read the whole thing.

Photo via Flickr user zorankaltenbaugh

The Ultimate Sports Road Trip has the whole skinny on the Bisons’ new affiliation with the New York Mets.

That’s what the Daily News and Buffalo News say:

It looks like Buster Bison is getting set to greet Mr. Met in Dunn Tire Park.

Deals can’t be officially negotiated until Thursday but all signs are pointing toward the New York Mets becoming Buffalo’s new parent in 2009.

The Mets are leaving New Orleans and the New York Daily News is reporting they expect to sign a deal with the Bisons later this week that will be announced in a news conference here next Monday. Sources confirm to The Buffalo News the Mets are the Bisons’ top choice although the team denied that Monday.

The Boston Globe was going to release a book about the 19-0 unbeatable ‘07 - ‘08 Patriots. Obviously - and thrillingly - the Giants put the kibosh on that.

What’s funny isn’t the fact that book isn’t going to be published. What’s funny is what you see when you scroll down the Amazon listing.

Auction to benefit the Sabres Foundation. Afinogenov’s jersey is at $500. Connolly’s is at $325. Miller’s mask (with knit hat) is at $10,000. Check it out here.

Drury is getting $35.6 million over 5 years, while Briere is getting $52 million over 8 years in Philadelphia.

The Sabres had offered Drury $30 million. They had offered Briere $25 over 5 years. Check out the BfloBlog open thread here for reaction.

The News’ Sabres Edge blog says,

Briere on locker cleanout day spoke about returning to the Sabres for less money than he would make elsewhere, but when the Sabres failed to extend their initial offer until six weeks later (five years at the same annual salary he made last season), the All Star MVP knew they weren’t really interested.

If you read only one analysis of the end of the Sabres’ season, make it this one.

A reporter from Ottawa checks to see if Ray Emery’s snarky comments about Buffalo pan out.

PS: I like Anchor Bar plenty. Why would we deny the fact that Buffalo is the home of the Buffalo Wing?

Another team came back from a 3-0 playoff series deficit. It didn’t just win 4 in a row; it won the subsequent 8 in a row. I’m just sayin’.

Belated HT to Julia